Brian Dunbar
Headquarters, Washington Nov. 9, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-0873)
John Bluck
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
(Phone: 650/604-5026 or 604-9000)
Lemar Wooley
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington
(Phone: 202/708-0685)
RELEASE: 01-219
NASA WEBCAST TO HIGHLIGHT WORLD OF ROBOTS FOR HUD CENTERS
Residents in federal housing developments will be able to
learn about the robotics of today and tomorrow during a NASA
Internet "webcast" next week, perhaps sparking the interest of
young people in science and engineering.
The webcast, scheduled for 6 p.m. EST Nov. 14, will reach hundreds
of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) "Neighborhood
Networks" community technology centers across the country. The
webcast will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m. EST on Nov. 14.
The one-hour program, "NASA Robotics for Exploration and
Discovery," is a general-interest session during which NASA
experts will discuss the current and future uses of robots. People
tuning in will be able to "learn, discover, hear and interact with
their neighbors and their space agency," according to the
program's producers.
"It is clear from occupational outlook studies that NASA and
American industry eventually will need many more roboticists than
are being trained in our schools," said Tom Dyson, an engineer at
NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. "While
there clearly is no NASA employment implied by this session, it is
possible that this kind of opportunity could launch a student
toward thinking about a robotics career," he said. Dyson works on
NASA's Learning Technology Project, which is producing the
robotics webcast.
"This is a great opportunity for residents of HUD housing to be
exposed to robotics," said Delores Pruden, director of HUD's
Neighborhood Networks Program. "Youth, especially, will be able to
see first-hand the importance of math and science. Both HUD and
NASA benefit from this partnership, and we look forward to
implementing future educational events together."
The community technology centers, located on HUD multifamily
properties, include computers hooked to the World Wide Web, and
provide computer and job skills training and placement. webcasts
enable people to watch live video, listen to audio and interact in
real time on the Internet with experts.
Students who took part in previous robotics competitions will
participate in the webcast. Some young people who formed teams to
build, program and compete robots, one against the other, have
been inspired to go to college and pursue science and engineering
careers, according to the NASA engineers who were mentors.
Although robotics is attracting a cross-section of young people,
mentors are particularly encouraged by the enthusiasm of some
youths who attend 'continuation' high schools.
"Last year, students from San Jose's Foothill High School were
leaders of the championship alliance of the 2000 FIRST Robotics
Tournament in Orlando," said Mark Leon, Robotics Education Project
manager for NASA. "Most of these students are of Hispanic or Asian
heritage from a challenged social or economic status. Foothill's
students are classified as 'youth at risk' because Foothill is a
continuation high school. This spot is the last stop for students
on their way out, or their last chance to get it together. In this
case, the students not only got it together, but they have
surprised the world."
"Here we have the kids that society expects the worst of, and they
give us their absolute best," said NASA Ames engineer and mentor
Alan Federman.
More information about the robotics webcast is on the Internet at:
http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/events/hud/
The NASA Robotics Education Project assists students in learning
engineering and computer skills by supporting robotics competition
and other educational robotics activities. More information is on
the Internet at:
http://robotics.nasa.gov
http://www.kipr.org
Media representatives can find the nearest participating HUD
center on the Internet at:
http://199.223.18.220/nn/contacts.nsf/centersearch
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